Learn from the Past
“To cherish what remains of the Earth and to foster its renewal
is our only legitimate hope of survival.”
Sadly, the greatest threat to the coast redwood trees is humans. In the past, logging has been very destructive to the redwood forest. In fact, more than 95% of the original coastal redwood forests have been cut down. This occurred over a century, starting when California was under Spanish rule and not ending until the 1990s, when the last old-growth grove on timber production lands was cut. The most severe period of logging began in about 1850, driven by the demand for mine and building timber created by the California gold rush, and continued well into the 20th century.
Go back to
Interactions
with Other Species.
Opposition to the logging began
almost immediately in the late 19th
century. In 1900, the first activist organization, Sempervirens Club
was established to formally work to preserve the trees, and two
years later, the first redwood park, now known as the Big Basin
Redwoods State Park, was set aside. Later, in 1907,
Muir Woods
National Monument was preserved.
Save the Redwoods League was
established eleven years later. In following decades, the Save the
Redwoods League and many other activist groups have fought to
protect remaining old redwoods by supporting state and federal
parks, protecting areas of land, and even buying land. In fact, for
every ten acres of protected redwoods in California, more than six
of those acres have been preserved through the work of this
corporation.
Today, the redwoods are one of the most symbolically important of
all tree species, respected by millions of people for the visual and
other subtle values provided by these remaining groves of majestic
trees. Unfortunately, logging is still a problem for the forests,
even to this day. Several timber companies are now targeting
second-growth trees in areas just beginning to recover the
characteristics of a healthy, mature forest. More lately, urban
development is threatening the coastal redwoods, mainly in places
close to growing population centers. The coast redwoods in the Santa
Cruz Mountains are especially at risk.
The coast redwood is one
of the most important timber species in California. Its rich color,
light weight, and resistance to decay and fire make it very
valuable. As a result of its resistance to decay, it was often times
used for railroad ties. Many of the old ties have been recycled and
are now used in gardens as borders and such. The burls of redwoods
are made into table tops and veneers.
Video:
Save the Redwoods League
I know it's hard to believe, but there's even MORE!!! Visit
More
Interesting Facts to learn even more cool stuff about the coast
redwood!